Method for electrically charging fluids



April 1932 r E. E. LiTTLEFiELD 354, 5

METHOD FOR ELECTRICALLY CHARGING FLUIDS Filed Nov. 27. 1920 INVEPatented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD FORELECTBIOALLY CHARGING FLUIDS Application filed November 27, 1920. SerialNo. 426,860.

This ap lication is a continuation, in part, of an application filed byme October 24, 1916, Ser. No. 127,338, for an improvement in apparatusfor electrically charging fluids, which application eventuated in PatentNo. 1,360,654, Nov. 30, 1920. The application which eventmted in PatentNo. 1,360,654, is a continuation of my former application filed March10, 1909, Ser. No. 482,599, and the subjest-matter of the instantapplication is disclosed in the application filed March 10, 1909.

My invention relates to methods of electrically charging and treatingfluid vapors and sprays and to apparatus for putting such methods intopractical use.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a means and method fordispersing fluids, particularly fluid fuels.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear tothose skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification,drawings, and the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the nature and Scope of my inventionreference may be had to the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, ofone embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view, partly insectional elevation, showing a circuit arrangement and one applicationof the invention. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the device ofFig. 1 connected to a source of current, together with other details.

86 I have found that a fluid may be reduced to the form of vapor orspray by subjecting the same to an inducing electrical field. I havefound that where a jet of fluid issues under the influence of aninducing field of force the charge has the effect of forming the fluidinto fine particles. This effect may be used either alone or incombination with deflecting means.

While it would be desirable in many cases to use the fluidin acomparatively purer state increase the potential of a charge carried bythe fluid.

I have employed this method to disperse fluids employed in theelectrical treatment of vegetation. I have also employed the method todisperse, or atomize, liquid fuel employed in connection with furnacesand internal combustion engines. It has also been used for charging anddispersing fluids discharged from fountains.

As a further illustration of the scope of the invention it may beutilized for the generation of ozone to be supplied to the fuel usingdevice. Instead of op osing combustion, this substance has been fbund topossess 66 properties favoring it.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an embodiment by means of which the fluid may bedispersed by subjecting it to the influence of an electrostatic field.To this end I have provided a 70 casing 25, which may be connected to asource of fluid by means of the screw threads 11 or 6. Fluid isdischarged from the chamber provided by the casing 25 through thedischarge openings 5, 5 in a path which is in the inducing field of anelectrode 1, which is connected by means of a threaded member 3, and aconductor 12. to a source of high tension electricity. The conductorconnecting the electrode with the source of electricity is preferablyenclosed within an insulating member 4, while its position, togetherwith that of the electrode, may be adjusted by means of set screw 7 At 2is an insulating sleeve enclosing the conducting member and a part ofthe electrode. The electrode 1 may of a type commonly used with violetray machines, or the like. I contemplate, however, that any othersuitable type or form of electrode may be substituted therefor andeither a part or the whole enclosed by insulation where necessary. Suchmeans as might include, or be associated with, a high frequencygenerator, or a transformer, or the like, may be employed to develop anelectrostatic field for charging the vapor or spray. While an inducingfield developed by an alternating current may be employed to charge thefluid, I have found it preferable to employ unidirectional current. Forthis purpose either a mechanical rectifier or a set of two, preferablyfour, kenotrons may be employed. With such apparatus both sides of thewaves are made available for use. With one kenotron, however, one sideof the waves is suppressed and one side made available. I have foundthat for dispersing the fluid unidirectional current is superior toalternating current. A simple arrangement for dispersing the fluid bymeans of unidirectional current may consist of a high potentialgenerator of unidirectional current, conventionally shown at 24, whichis connected by means of circuit 30 to conductor 12 and the device 25.Circuit 30 may, if desired, be provided with a switch element 27 andgrounded at 28 and 29, or completed in any other suitable or convenientmanner.

, Theoretically considered and assuming thatthe conductor 12 isconnected to a source of directcurrentan electrical field will form inthe regionadjacent the electrode 1. If the field is one in whichinduction may take place and fluid froma .jet is discharged under theinfluence of the field the particles leaving the jet will carryelectrical charges of one sign while the charges of the opposite signwill be given up to the jet, it being assumed that the electrostaticcapacity of the jet is suflicient to absorb the charges of oppositesign. Since the particles leaving the'jet carry electrical charges ofsimilar sign mutual repulsion or dispersion results.

Considering now afield in which the air is ionized or charged. itis'possible tocharge the particles of fluid by means of the ionized air.If the fluid particles, for instance, are exposed to contact with theionized air electrical charges will be imparted to the former. Since thecharges carried by the air particles are of similar sign and these areshared with the particles of fluid the charges imparted to the latterwill be of similar sign.

. In the foregoing it has been assumed that the field is one produced bydirect current. If now a field produced by alternating current issubstituted for the former similar re- .sults may be obtained. Aninsulated particle of matter occupying a fixed position in analternating field will receive first a charge of one sign and then acharge of opposite sign, but if the particle is passed rapidly throughthe field it will be found to possess a substantial charge after leavingthe field. Ob-

. viously, the particle receives a charge and leaves the field before anopposing influence is set up. In substantially similar manner it ispossible to charge particles of fluid or solid matter. Moreover. it isapparent that the charges so carried will be of similar sign.

In the two cases last considered it is obvious that mutual repulsionresults. Vith reference to the "above compare the British patent toDiebold, No. 117.077. November 21, 1918.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an arran ement by means of which the method may eemployed for dispersing or atomizing fluid fuel employed in connectionwith a furnace. This arrangement provides a burner 19, having an orifice22 opening into the furnace chamber (not shown), and an air supply inletwhich may be connected, if desirable, to a source of air under pressureby means of the screw threads 20. The burner is connected to the wall 21of the furnace by means of the screw threads 23. By means of the screwthreads 9 a combination is eflected between the device of Fig. 1 and theburner 19. A low tension source of current 18 supplies current throughcircuit 14 to the primary winding of a high tension transformer 15,which, in turn, feeds the secondary circuit 18, which is connected toterminal 8 and conductor 12. Means are provided for opening or closingcircuits 13 and 14:- by the switch elements 16 and 17 respectively.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a side elevation of the device ofFig. 1, showing the same connected to a standard, and also showing thecircuit connections, the same being as before described. As illustrated,the standard 26 is connected by means of the screw threads 10 to thecasing 25. The standard, which is shown partly in section, provides asupporting means whereby the device may be employed in electricalirrigation. Obviously, any other suitable or convenient means may besubstituted for the standard shown and connected, as by the screwthreads, to the casing 25. The device may also be supported by theconduit supplying the fluid, in which case the standard would beunnecessary.

vegetation, may, when desired, be charged chemically with suchsubstances as have been found to have a beneficial efl'ect, either instimulating plant growth or by way of having an injurious eflect uponthe fungus or insect peststo which the vegetation may be subject. Byadding the electrical charge to the chemically charged fluid thechemical action is increased. By these means, either sepa rately orcombined, as may best fit the occasion, I am enabled to stimulate thegrowth of vegetation or free it of pests, or to do both at once. 1

It is evident that with my invention various fluids may be electricallycharged and the charged fluid applied in many different ways. Asindicated previously, either rela-' tively pure or chemically chargedliquids may be used with this device.

While in the above description I have illustrated and explained typicalembodiments whereby my invention may be carried into effect. it will beapparent that many modifications in the structure of the apparatus usedand in the application thereof may be made esa 4.7a

' without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of dispersing fluid fuel which consists in discharging thesame in the form of one or more jets and applying electrical charges tothe dispersed particles of similar sign and substantially equal value.

2. The method of reducing fluid fuel to a form suitable for consumptionwhich consists of applying thereto electrical charges of such characteras to cause repulsion between the particles.

3. The method of dispersing particles of fuel which consists in applyingthereto mutually repellent electrical charges.

4. The method of dispersing fluid fuel which consists in discharging thesame in the form of one or more jets and so charging the unvaporizedfluid that when the particles become detached. from the mass they carryelectrical charges of such character that mutual repulsion is producedbetween them.

5. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in applying tothe particles thereof electrical charges of similar sign and ofsubstantially equal value.

6. The method of dispersing a liquid which consists in applying mutuallyrepellent electrical charges to the particles thereof.

7. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in applying boundelectrical charges of similar sign to the particles thereof. I

8. The method of reducing fluid fuel from an undispersed condition to adispersed condition which consists in so charging the particles thereofthat when they are caused to move in a path that those particles cuttingthe same cross-sectional plane at the same time carryelectrical chargesof such charac ter that the force exerted by mutual repulsion is ofsubstantially equal value between them.

9. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in projectinginto the path thereof an electrical field of such character that afterthe particles leave the field they carry mutually repellent electricalcharges. 10. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists inprojecting into the path thereof a unidirectional high potentialelectrical field of such character as to cause mutual repulsion betweenthe particles of the fuel.

11. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in projectinginto the path thereof a high potential electrical field of suchcharacter as to cause mutual repulsion between the particles of thefuel.

12. The step in the method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists inso charging the particles that those cutting the same cross sectionalplane at substantially the same time carry mutually repellent electricalcharges of substantially equal value.

13. The step in the method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists inso charging the particles that those traveling abreast carry electricalcharges of like sign.

14. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in applying tothe particles thereof electrical charges of such character that mutualrepulsion is produced independently of ionization.

15. The method of reducing liquid fuel from an undispersed condition toa dispersed condition which consists in so charging the particles thatthey carry electrical charges of one sign while the electrical chargesof opposite sign are given up to the undispersed body of the liquid.

16. The method of dispersing liquid fuel which consists in causingmutual repulsion between the particles thereof without simul taneouslycausing precipitation of the same.

17. The method of dispersing a fluid which consists in establishing anelectrical field and discharging the fluid in the form of two or morejets into the field to apply electrical charges to the dispersedparticles of similar sign and substantially equal value.

18. The method of dispersing a fuel fluid

